Classical favourites dressed up as pop songs: Hate 'em?

Question

I was showing my violin-and-piano arrangement of Faure's Pavane to one of my friends, and she exclaimed, 'Oh, this is a classical piece? I thought it was a pop song!' These artistes are guilty of causing impressionable young people to know classical pieces under a false name.

Answer 1

I have actually heard a few modern arrangements of songs that are OK. Sarah Brightman has some really nice ones.
The only part of it that really gets on my nerves is when people don't put in who the composer was. In Evanescence's CD The Open Door they have an arrangement of Mozart's Lacrimosa and have it listed as being written by Amy Lee. It's very rude.
I do get upset when people make the songs sound bad though. Like with TV commercials or Mariah Carey singing Handel.

Answer 2

Yes but look at what you just said! "These artistes are guilty of causing impressionable young people to know classical pieces under a false name"

NOW focus on the really important point you inadvertently made...

,,"Causing impressionable young people TO KNOW classical pieces..."

Sometimes we have to get the bigger picture, and to me this is what the bigger picture is, that some very wonderful complositions are being given new life and young people are actually coming to LOVE them! I remember listening to a kind of hip hop rap version of Bizets Carmine thinking , SO IT HAS A NEW LIFE!!!

The sad truth is that if some of these pop artists had NOT resurrected some of these pieces they would die and dissapear from us completely!

And if someone unwittingly develops a taste for the classics then is that a bad thing? It certainly gives someone like you the opportunity to come along and play your piece and when you get the reaction you did, "Oh this is a classical piece???" You could always say, Sure, you mean You DIDN'T KNOW THAT???!!!!" Who knows we may yet see a revival of real genuine MUSIC again!

Answer 3

What might be worth considering is the possibility of someone hearing a "pop" tune with a theme borrowed from a classical piece who then hears the original, then going on to learn more about classical music, at least in some way. Some people never hear classical music, so any way to teach them, I'm all for it. I find it interesting that being a classical musician, you're against borrowing. Countless composers in history have borrowed themes from other composers. They were rejected for that, just as you're rejecting the pop versions of some pieces. Classical music has withstood the test of time, and is still around today making people happy (yourself included) BECAUSE of borrowing. Do you think Charles Ives was well-received when he composed and performed any of his pieces? Personally, I'm not a fan of Ives, but as a musician, I can appreciate it for what it's worth. I don't know how old you are, but the Rach 3 is the basis for one of THE most popular pop tunes from the 70s. I grew up listening to both, and was thrilled to pass that information on to my teenager. The pop song came on the radio. When it was done, I put my Rach 3 cd in...her eyes got wide and she grinned from ear to ear.

You're a cellist...have you ever listened to, or heard of a cd called "Beatles go Baroque?" You should look it up.

Answer 4

I think that people like you are way too possessive of music that you did not write. When you play Faure's Pavane are you not repeating a style and sound that someone else invented? If someone had never heard a classical tune before, they might believe that you have written the piece right? I think that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, and I think that if people are enjoying their music then you should mind you're own business.

Answer 5

Well, I'm not totally opposed to feshening up classical literature. Some themes were meant to live on forever, why not give them a new face?

I will admit that I detest the Nike and Snickers commercials with Mozart (Lacrymosa) and Beethoven (Symphony 7 No.2). To me that is a desecration of quality music that stands on it's own. I think it's sad that those incredible and emotional works are now known as Nike and Snickers. Some music just shouldn't be messed with!

Answer 6

I can't agree with you more. And it taints the themes and melodies. My prime example isn't a pop song, but the commerical for the Starz movie channel, how they added words to Ode to Joy. And now every time I hear that amazing piece, I can't get those words out of my mind. Excellent advertising for sure, but awful ethics.

Answer 7

Well, I somewhat agree with you, but on the other hand, it is a way to 'freshen up' or bring back songs that would otherwise not get recognition. Maybe that's what music is all about - reinventing the songs. I think that getting the younger crowd to listen to older songs, but having them incorporated into modern style is important. But I can also see your point.

Answer 8

Perhaps if there were credits given to the original piece, like giving footnotes? Oh, right, sometimes there's no label to read.
Perhaps it has to do with lack of inventiveness? ( I mean, like, totally, these pieces are like, y'know, old.
Man, who listens to that stuff except, like, yer parents, or even your gramma and granpa)
Except that we do, despite their age, and we revere them for the joy they still bring us. If someone nowadays were to write something as beautiful, wouldn't that make us sit up and take notice! Is it a possibility?
meanwhile, I will continue to listen and perform the classics with heartfelt thanks.

Answer 9

Dear Cello: How dare they? And when I grew up, I found out that all those tunes in the Bugs Bunny cartoons are classical music too!! And the Lone Ranger's theme song. the nerve of some people, trying to educate us when we aren't looking.

Answer 10

I don't like them in general. I also wish that the performers who do this would list the original so that the public would at least know and could hunt down that original if they want to hear more. I know...not bloody likely that that would happen...